• Serbia's President Vucic will resign within weeks, leading to early presidential and parliamentary elections.
• This decision follows over a year of youth-led protests against his government.
• Vucic's time in power has been marked by accusations of corruption and mismanagement.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Saturday that he will resign within weeks, setting the stage for early presidential and parliamentary elections. This announcement comes in the wake of persistent anti-government protests led by students, amid allegations of corruption and mismanagement, particularly following a 2024 train station disaster that resulted in 16 fatalities, as reported by Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Channel News Asia.

Vucic did not clarify the precise timing of his resignation or when elections would be scheduled. However, he expressed determination to support his party, the Serbian Progressive Party, during the upcoming elections, claiming, "We will win more convincingly than ever before," at a rally in Belgrade, according to South China Morning Post and Los Angeles Times.

The president's decision follows extensive youth-led protests demanding accountability for government actions, which have been described as increasingly authoritarian. As protests gained momentum over the past year, activists have called for snap elections, holding Vucic accountable for the Novi Sad disaster and ongoing governance issues, as documented by Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Channel News Asia.

Vucic, who has been in power for 12 years and is unable to run for the presidency again due to electoral laws, has been speculated to potentially transition back into the role of prime minister post-resignation. Critics of Vucic contend that his departure does not signify the end of his political influence, as he is expected to remain involved in leadership and decision-making processes, according to South China Morning Post and Los Angeles Times.